US20230203857A1 - Door handle assembly for vehicle and method for controlling the same - Google Patents
Door handle assembly for vehicle and method for controlling the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20230203857A1 US20230203857A1 US18/090,244 US202218090244A US2023203857A1 US 20230203857 A1 US20230203857 A1 US 20230203857A1 US 202218090244 A US202218090244 A US 202218090244A US 2023203857 A1 US2023203857 A1 US 2023203857A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- door handle
- handle
- door
- housing
- drive lever
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 7
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 64
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000872 buffer Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000008186 active pharmaceutical agent Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004397 blinking Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B85/00—Details of vehicle locks not provided for in groups E05B77/00 - E05B83/00
- E05B85/10—Handles
- E05B85/107—Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
- B60Q1/2661—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic mounted on parts having other functions
- B60Q1/2669—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic mounted on parts having other functions on door or boot handles
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B17/00—Accessories in connection with locks
- E05B17/10—Illuminating devices on or for locks or keys; Transparent or translucent lock parts; Indicator lights
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B77/00—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes
- E05B77/02—Vehicle locks characterised by special functions or purposes for accident situations
- E05B77/04—Preventing unwanted lock actuation, e.g. unlatching, at the moment of collision
- E05B77/06—Preventing unwanted lock actuation, e.g. unlatching, at the moment of collision by means of inertial forces
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
- E05B81/02—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by the type of actuators used
- E05B81/04—Electrical
- E05B81/06—Electrical using rotary motors
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
- E05B81/24—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by constructional features of the actuator or the power transmission
- E05B81/32—Details of the actuator transmission
- E05B81/34—Details of the actuator transmission of geared transmissions
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
- E05B81/24—Power-actuated vehicle locks characterised by constructional features of the actuator or the power transmission
- E05B81/32—Details of the actuator transmission
- E05B81/40—Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
- E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a door handle assembly for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a door handle assembly for a vehicle with a door handle that is deployable from a door of the vehicle and a method for controlling the same.
- a door of a vehicle is provided with a door handle capable of opening and closing the door.
- a user can open or close the door using the door handle.
- the user can open and close the door by horizontally moving the door handle in one direction or rotating it about a rotating axis.
- aspects of the present disclosure provide a door handle assembly for a vehicle with a door handle that is deployable from a door of the vehicle and a method for controlling the same.
- a door handle assembly for a vehicle may include a door handle; a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle; a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle; an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing.
- the door handle may be deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
- the door handle may be disposed parallel to a vehicle door.
- the door handle may become inclined with respect to the vehicle door and then be disposed parallel with the vehicle door upon completion of the deployment.
- a part of the door handle may be discharged to exterior of the handle housing.
- the door handle assembly may further include a first elastic member configured to generate an elastic force between the handle housing and the drive lever; and a second elastic member configured to generate an elastic force between the drive lever and the door handle.
- the door handle In response to the driving force of the actuator being removed, the door handle may be accommodated in the handle housing by the elastic force of the first elastic member, and in response to the drive lever being rotated by the driving force of the actuator, the door handle may be rotated with respect to the drive lever by the elastic force of the second elastic member.
- a vehicle door may be unlocked in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is deployed from the handle housing.
- the door handle assembly may further include an unlocking unit connected to the drive lever and configured to unlock the vehicle door based on the rotation of the drive lever.
- the actuator may include a drive motor configured to generate the driving force by rotation; an output shaft configured to move axially by the driving force and press the drive lever; an actuator housing configured to accommodate the drive motor and the output shaft; and a position provision unit configured to provide a position of the output shaft with respect to the actuator housing.
- the position provision unit may include a common electrode pin; a first position electrode pin configured to indicate that the output shaft is in a position that does not press the drive lever in response to the first position electrode pin being electrically connected to the common electrode pin; a second position electrode pin configured to indicate that the output shaft is in a position that presses the driving lever in response to the second position electrode pin being electrically connected to the common electrode pin; and a connection pin included in the output shaft and configured to connect the first position electrode pin or the second position electrode pin to the common electrode pin.
- the door handle may include a signal receiver configured to receive a signal associated with the deployment of the door handle; a weight body; and a handle body configured to accommodate the signal receiver on one side thereof and the weight body on the other side thereof with respect to a rotation axis of the drive lever.
- the weight body may be provided to decrease a moment of inertia of the door handle with respect to the rotation axis.
- the door handle assembly may further include a support rod configured to move horizontally with respect to the drive lever and support an end of the door handle; and a link configured to move the support rod while rotating with respect to the handle housing by the rotation of the drive lever.
- a part of the door handle may be deployed from the handle housing as the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
- a door handle assembly for a vehicle may include a door handle; a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle; a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle; an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing.
- the door handle may be deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
- the door handle may include an optical device configured to emit light that corresponds to a vehicle signal received from the vehicle.
- a vehicle door may be unlocked in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is deployed from the handle housing.
- the door handle may further include a handle body configured to accommodate the optical device; and a handle cover coupled to the handle body and configured to provide an accommodation space for the optical device.
- the handle cover may include at least one light emission portion to emit the light generated from the optical device.
- the optical device may include a light source configured to irradiate the light; a light guide configured to guide the light irradiated from the light source and emit the light to the handle cover; a substrate configured to support the light source; and a controller configured to control an operation of the light source.
- the optical guide may include a light incident part configured to receive the light from the light source, and a light emission part configured to emit the light incident on the light incident part.
- the light emission part may include a light emission surface disposed towards the handle cover and configured to emit the light incident on the light incident part to the handle cover; and a light diffusion surface provided on an opposite side of the light emission surface and configured to diffuse the light incident on the light incident part to the light emission surface.
- the light diffusion surface may include at least one light diffusion part formed by recessing the light diffusion surface inwards.
- the controller may be configured to control the light source to irradiate the light of a particular color or pattern depending on the vehicle signal received from the vehicle.
- Door handle assemblies for a vehicle can prevent resistance (e.g., drag) caused by air during driving since the door handle can be embedded (e.g., retracted, withdrawn) or deployed in the door of the vehicle.
- the door handle since the entire door handle is deployed in the door of the vehicle, the user can more easily operate the door handle. Further, since the door handle emits light in response to different situations, the user can more easily recognize the situations.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 3 illustrates a buffer provided in a housing body
- FIG. 4 illustrates the door handle accommodated in the handle housing
- FIG. 5 illustrates the door handle being deployed from the handle housing
- FIG. 6 illustrates the entire door handle deployed from the handle housing
- FIG. 7 illustrates a force for unlocking the vehicle door exerted on the door handle
- FIG. 8 depicts the coupling relationship between the drive lever and the unlocking unit
- FIG. 9 depicts an operation of the unlocking unit
- FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an actuator
- FIG. 11 illustrates an output shaft
- FIG. 12 is a view illustrating that a common electrode pin and a first position electrode pin are electrically connected
- FIG. 13 is a view illustrating that the common electrode pin and a second position electrode pin are electrically connected
- FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a handle body
- FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the drive lever
- FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the drive lever
- FIG. 18 illustrates positional relationship of the support rod for the drive lever when the door handle is accommodated in the handle housing
- FIG. 19 illustrates positional relationship of the support rod for the drive lever when the door handle is deployed from the handle housing
- FIG. 20 illustrates the door handle supported by a support rod
- FIG. 21 illustrates a part of the door handle being deployed from the handle housing by an external force
- FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an optical device
- FIG. 23 depicts the function of an optical guide
- FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the optical guide
- FIG. 25 depicts the function of a light diffusion part
- FIG. 26 depicts the function of a controller
- FIG. 27 depicts light being emitted from a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- a door handle assembly 10 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a door handle 100 , a handle housing 200 , a drive lever 400 , an actuator 300 , and an unlocking unit 500 .
- the door handle 100 may be grasped by a user and may be used to open a door of a vehicle.
- the user may open the door of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “a vehicle door”) by pulling the door handle 100 towards the outside of the vehicle.
- the door handle 100 may emit light that corresponds to a signal received from the vehicle (e.g., a controller in the vehicle). Accordingly, the door handle 100 may be used not only to open the vehicle door, but also to emit light that allows the user to notice the status of the vehicle.
- the handle housing 200 may provide an accommodation space of the door handle 100 .
- the door handle 100 may be in a state of being accommodated in the handle housing 200 or in a state of being deployed therefrom, i.e., in a state of being discharged from the handle housing 200 .
- the handle housing 200 may be fixedly coupled to the vehicle door.
- the door handle 100 When the door handle 100 is accommodated in the handle housing 200 , the door handle 100 may be retracted (e.g., withdrawn) within the vehicle door. Meanwhile, when the door handle 100 is deployed from the handle housing 200 , the door handle 100 may protrude from the exterior surface of the vehicle door. The user may open the vehicle door by pulling the door handle 100 that protrudes from the vehicle door.
- the handle housing 200 may include a housing body 210 and a housing cover 220 .
- the housing body 210 may be fixedly coupled to the vehicle door to provide an accommodation space of the door handle 100 .
- the housing cover 220 may be coupled to the housing body 210 to provide an entry port through which the door handle 100 is accommodated in the housing body 210 or deployed therefrom.
- the housing cover 220 may seal at least a part of an opening of the housing body 210 .
- the housing cover 220 may seal the remainder of the opening of the housing body 210 , except the space for moving the door handle 100 . Accordingly, external substances can be prevented from being introduced into the housing body 210 , and the components accommodated into the housing body 210 can be prevented from being observed from the outside.
- the drive lever 400 may be rotatably coupled to the handle housing 200 and the door handle 100 .
- the door handle 100 may be inserted into the handle housing 200 or deployed from the handle housing 200 as the drive lever 400 rotates with respect to the handle housing 200 .
- the door handle 100 may be disposed substantially parallel with the vehicle door both in the state where it is accommodated in the handle housing 200 (hereinafter referred to as “an accommodated state”) and in the state where it is deployed from the handle housing 200 (hereinafter referred to as “a deployed state”).
- an accommodated state the state where it is accommodated in the handle housing 200
- a deployed state the state where it is deployed from the handle housing 200
- the door handle 100 may have a posture parallel to the vehicle door.
- the door handle 100 in the accommodated state, the door handle 100 may be buried in the vehicle door and have a posture parallel to the vehicle door, and in the deployed state, the door handle 100 may protrude from the vehicle door and have a posture parallel to the vehicle door.
- the door handle 100 may temporarily have an inclined posture.
- the door handle 100 may have a posture parallel to the vehicle door in the accommodated state, a posture inclined with respect to the vehicle door during the deployment, and a posture parallel to the vehicle door again when the deployment is completed.
- the door handle 100 may be rotatably coupled to the drive lever 400 so that the door handle 100 may have a posture parallel to the vehicle door in both the accommodated state and the deployed state.
- the door handle 100 may rotate with respect to the drive lever 400 while the drive lever 400 rotates with respect to the handle housing 200 , thus determining the posture of the door handle 100 for the vehicle door.
- the actuator 300 may deploy the door handle 100 from the handle housing 200 by transmitting a driving force to the drive lever 400 .
- the drive lever 400 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 , so that the door handle 100 may be inserted into the handle housing 200 , or the door handle 100 may be deployed from the handle housing 200 .
- the actuator 300 transmits the driving force to the drive lever 400
- the drive lever 400 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 , and the door handle 100 may be simultaneously deployed from the handle housing 200 .
- the entire door handle 100 may be deployed from the handling housing 200 .
- the door handle 100 When the door handle 100 is deployed from or accommodated in the handle housing 200 , the door handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door following the temporarily inclined posture to the vehicle door. In the accommodated state, the door handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door and may have the posture inclined to the vehicle door while being deployed from the handle housing 200 , and when the deployment is completed, the door handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door again.
- the door handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door and may have the posture inclined to the vehicle door while being accommodated into the handle housing 200 , and when the accommodation is completed, the door handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door again.
- the unlocking unit 500 may be connected to the drive lever 400 and may operate by rotation of the drive lever 400 and unlock the vehicle door. A detailed description of the structure and function of the unlocking unit 500 will be provided below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 .
- FIG. 3 depicts a buffer provided in the housing body.
- a housing body 210 may include a buffer 230 .
- the buffer 230 may be provided in the handle housing 200 to buffer or absorb the impact between the door handle 100 and the handle housing 200 .
- the housing body 210 may include an accommodating groove 211 for arranging a buffer 230 .
- the buffer 230 may be accommodated in the accommodating groove 211 to alleviate (e.g., buffer or absorb) the impact between the housing body 210 and at least one of the door handle 100 or the drive lever 400 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates an example where one buffer member 230 is provided in the housing body 210 .
- the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and a plurality of buffers 230 may be provided in the housing body 210 .
- FIG. 4 illustrates the door handle accommodated in the handle housing
- FIG. 5 illustrates the door handle being deployed from the handle housing
- FIG. 6 illustrates the entire door handle deployed from the handle housing.
- FIG. 7 depicts a force unlocking the vehicle door being exerted on the door handle
- FIG. 8 depicts the coupling relation between the drive lever and the unlocking unit
- FIG. 9 depicts an operation of the unlocking unit.
- the door handle 100 may be deployed from the handle housing 200 as the drive lever 400 rotates with respect to the handle housing 200 .
- the door handle 100 may have the posture parallel to a vehicle door 20 while being accommodated in the handle housing 200 .
- the door handle 100 may be disposed in the handle housing 200 such that an outer surface of the door handle 100 and an outer surface of the door are disposed on a substantially same plane (e.g., “flush” with each other).
- the drive lever 400 may include a first elastic member 610 .
- the first elastic member 610 may generate an elastic force between the handle housing 200 and the drive lever 400 .
- the first elastic member 610 may generate an elastic force that biases the door handle 100 toward being inserted into the handle housing 200 .
- the elastic force of the first elastic member 610 may act as a rotational force that rotates the drive lever 400 with respect to the handle housing 200 , and upon removing the driving force of the actuator 300 , the door handle 100 may be accommodated in the handle housing 200 by the elastic force of the first elastic member 610 , as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
- the door handle 100 may be deployed from the handle housing 200 while the drive lever 400 rotates with respect to the handle housing 200 by the driving force of the actuator 300 .
- the drive lever 400 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 about a first rotation axis Ax.
- the door handle 100 may be deployed from the handle housing 200 .
- a second elastic member 620 may be provided between the drive lever 400 and the door handle 100 .
- the second elastic member 620 may generate an elastic force between the drive lever 400 and the door handle 100 .
- the elastic force of the second elastic member 620 may bias the door handle 100 to be rotated toward one direction with respect to the drive lever 400 .
- the door handle 100 may rotate with respect to the drive lever 400 about a second rotation axis Bx by the elastic force of the second elastic member 620 .
- the drive lever 400 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 by the driving force of the actuator 300 , and the door handle 100 may simultaneously rotate with respect to the drive lever 400 such that the door handle 100 has the posture inclined with respect to the vehicle door 20 .
- the door handle 100 has the position inclined to the vehicle door 20 , a part of the door handle 100 may be discharged to the outside of the handle housing 200 .
- the rotation of the door handle 100 with respect to the drive lever 400 may be continued up to a predetermined angle, and as illustrated in FIG. 6 , the predetermined angle may be selected as an angle at which the door handle 100 becomes parallel to the door when the rotation of the drive lever 400 with respect to the handle housing 200 is completed.
- the door handle 100 When only a part of the door handle 100 is deployed from the handle housing 200 , the door handle 100 may not be easily grasped by the user. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , conversely, with the deployment of the entire door handle 100 from the handle housing 200 , the user can more easily grasp the door handle 100 .
- the vehicle door 20 may be unlocked.
- the user may pull the door handle 100 in a state where the entire door handle 100 is deployed from the handle housing 200 .
- the vehicle door 20 may be unlocked while the drive lever 400 rotates together with the door handle 100 .
- the vehicle door 20 may be opened.
- an unlocking pin 411 of the drive lever 400 may abut the unlocking unit 500 .
- the drive lever 400 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 . With the rotation of the drive lever 400 , the unlocking pin 411 may press (or slide) the unlocking unit 500 .
- the unlocking unit 500 may include a release rod 510 and a release lever 520 .
- the release rod 510 may be in contact with the unlocking pin 411 and may be configured to move with respect to the handle housing 200 when the unlocking pin 411 presses the unlocking unit 500 .
- the release lever 520 may be provided in an end of the release rod 510 .
- the release lever 520 may be rotatably coupled to the handle housing 200 .
- the release lever 520 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 about a third rotation axis Cx.
- the release lever 520 may be connected to a locking means of the vehicle door 20 , and with the rotation of the release lever 520 , the vehicle door 20 may be unlocked.
- FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an actuator
- FIG. 11 illustrates an output shaft
- FIG. 12 is a view illustrating that a common electrode pin and a first position electrode pin are electrically connected
- FIG. 13 is a view illustrating that the common electrode pin and a second position electrode pin are electrically connected.
- the actuator 300 may include an actuator housing 310 , a drive motor 320 , an output shaft 330 , and a connector pin 340 .
- the actuator housing 310 may accommodate the drive motor 320 , the output shaft 330 , and the connector pin 340 .
- the actuator housing 310 may be directly or indirectly coupled to the handle housing 200 .
- the drive motor 320 may generate the driving force, for example, a rotational torque.
- the drive motor 320 may operate with electrical power supplied externally.
- the output shaft 330 may be horizontally (e.g., axially) moved by the driving force of the drive motor 320 and may press the drive lever 400 .
- the driving force of the drive motor 320 may act as a force for the horizontal movement of the output shaft 330 , thus allowing the output shaft 330 to move horizontally.
- the drive motor 320 may be provided with a worm gear 321
- the output shaft 330 may be provided with a worm wheel 331 .
- the worm gear 321 may be gear-coupled to the worm wheel 331 . When the worm gear 321 rotates by the driving force of the drive motor 320 , the worm wheel 331 may be rotated.
- the output shaft 330 may be screw-coupled to the worm wheel 331 .
- the output shaft 330 may be moved horizontally with respect to the actuator housing 310 due to the screw-coupling that converts the rotational movement of the worm wheel 331 to a linear movement of the output shaft 330 .
- the connector pin 340 may supply the electrical power to the drive motor 320 or provide a path for a signal that represents a position of the output shaft 330 with respect to the actuator housing 310 .
- the output shaft 330 may include a connection pin 332 configured to electrically connect a pair of connector pins among the connector pins 340 .
- the connection pin 332 may electrically connect the pair of connector pins among the connector pins 340 .
- the connector pin 340 may include a first position electrode pin 341 , a second position electrode pin 342 , a common electrode pin 343 , and power supply pins 344 and 345 .
- the power supply pins 344 and 345 may serve as terminals for supplying the electrical power to the drive motor 320 .
- the drive motor 320 may generate the driving force to rotate the worm gear 321 .
- the worm gear 321 may rotate the worm wheel 331 , and the worm wheel 331 may rotate in a state where its axial movement is restricted in the actuator housing 310 . Accordingly, the worm wheel 331 may cause the output shaft 330 to move linearly with respect to the actuator housing 310 .
- the actuator 300 may include a position provision unit.
- the position provision unit may provide a position of the output shaft 330 relative to the actuator housing 310 .
- the position provision unit may provide whether the output shaft 330 is in a position that presses the drive lever 400 or not.
- the position of the output shaft 330 determined by the position provision unit may be provided to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle or a separate control means and be used for operation of the vehicle.
- ECU electronice control unit
- position information of the output shaft 330 is provided to the electronic control unit as an example.
- the position provision unit may include the common electrode pin 343 , the first position electrode pin 341 , the second position electrode pin 342 , and the connection pin 332 .
- the common electrode pin 343 may be electrically connected to the first position electrode pin 341 or the second position electrode pin 342 to provide information associated with the position of the output shaft 330 .
- the electronic control unit may determine that the output shaft 330 is in the position that does not press the drive lever 400 .
- the electronic control unit may determine that the output shaft 330 is in the position that does not press the drive lever 400 .
- the second position electrode pin 342 is electrically connected to the common electrode pin 343 , as shown in FIG. 13 , it may indicate that the output shaft 330 is in the position that presses the drive lever 400 . Accordingly, the electronic control unit may determine that the output shaft 330 is in the position that presses the drive lever 400 .
- the output shaft 330 may include the connection pin 332 .
- the connection pin 332 may the first position electrode pin 341 or the second electrode pin 342 be electrically connected to the common electrode pin 343 .
- the position of the connection pin 332 may be changed, thereby to alternatively connect the first position electrode pin 341 or the second position electrode pin 342 to the common electrode pin 343 .
- FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the handle body.
- the door handle 100 may include a handle body 110 , a handle cover 120 , an optical housing 130 , an optical cover 140 , an optical device 150 , and a weight body 160 .
- the handle body 110 may be coupled to the handle cover 120 to accommodate the optical housing 130 , the optical cover 140 , the optical device 150 , and the weight body 160 therein.
- an assembly of the handle body 110 and the handle cover 120 may form an outer appearance of the door handle 100 . The user may open the vehicle door 20 by grasping the assembly of the handle body 110 and the handle cover 120 .
- the handle cover 120 may be coupled to the handle body 110 , thus providing accommodation spaces of the optical housing 130 , the optical cover 140 , the optical device 150 , and the weight body 160 .
- the handle cover 120 may include at least one light emission portion 121 (or light emission aperture) to emit light generated from the optical device 150 .
- the optical device 150 may generate light. The light generated from the optical device 150 may be emitted to the exterior via the light emission portion 121 provided in the handle cover 120 .
- the light emission portion 121 may be formed over at least a part of the entire area of the handle cover 120 exposed to the exterior.
- FIG. 14 illustrates an example where the light emission portion 121 is formed in a part of one surface of the handle cover 120 .
- the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the light emission portion 121 may be formed across substantially the entire area of the handle cover 120 .
- the light emission portion 121 may be formed by perforating a surface of the handle cover 120 that is exposed to the exterior.
- the light emission portion 121 may remain a perforated state such that the inside and outside of the handle cover 120 are communicated or may be filled with a material that can transmit light.
- the optical housing 130 and the optical cover 140 may accommodate the optical device 150 therein.
- the optical device 150 may be accommodated in the handle body 110 and the handle cover 120 in a state where it is accommodated in the optical housing 130 and the optical cover 140 .
- the optical cover 140 may include a material that can transmit light. The light generated from the optical device 150 may be transmitted to the handle cover 120 by passing through the optical cover 140 .
- the optical housing 130 and the optical cover 140 may be omitted, and the optical device 150 may be directly accommodated in the handle body 110 and the handle cover 120 .
- the optical device 150 may be configured to generate the light that correspond to signals received from the vehicle. In addition, the optical device 150 may receive a signal for the deployment of the door handle 100 . The configuration and function of the optical device 150 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 22 to 26 .
- the optical device 150 may be accommodated in one longitudinal side of the handle body 110 .
- a weight imbalance may occur in the door handle 100 .
- the weight of the portion of the door handle 100 where the optical device 150 , the optical housing 130 , and the optical cover 140 are loaded may be greater than other portions.
- the weight body 160 may be accommodated in the handle body 110 .
- the handle body 110 may accommodate the optical device 150 on one side thereof and the weight body 160 on the other side thereof with respect to the rotation axis Bx of the drive lever 400 .
- the weight body 160 may make the weight of both sides more uniform with respect to the rotation axis Bx of the drive lever 400 .
- the weight body 160 may reduce a mass moment of inertia of the door handle 100 . As the weight body 160 reduces the moment of inertia of the door handle 100 , the weight imbalance of the door handle 100 , vibration of the door handle 100 , as well as the noise caused by the door handle 100 during driving, may be prevented or reduced.
- a support protrusion 111 may be provided in the handle body 110 .
- the support protrusion 111 may protrude from the handle body 110 and be supported by a support rod to be described below. As the support protrusion 111 is supported by the support rod, a force exerted by the user on the door handle 100 may be transmitted to the drive lever 400 .
- FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the drive lever
- FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the drive lever.
- the drive lever 400 may include a lever body 410 and a lever cover 420 .
- the lever body 410 and the lever cover 420 may be coupled to each other, thus providing accommodation spaces of the support rod 700 and the link 800 .
- a pressure delivery groove 412 may be formed in the lever body 410 .
- the output shaft 330 provided in the actuator 300 may be inserted into the pressure delivery groove 412 to transmit the driving force of the actuator 300 to the drive lever 400 .
- the drive lever 400 With the movement of the output shaft 330 with one end of the output shaft 330 being inserted into the pressure delivery groove 412 , the drive lever 400 may rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 .
- the support rod 700 may horizontally move inside the drive lever 400 .
- the support rod 700 may horizontally move with respect to the drive lever 400 to support an end of the door handle 100 .
- the support rod 700 may support the support protrusion 111 of the door handle 100 .
- the rotation of the door handle 100 with respect to the drive lever 400 may be prevented, and the force exerted on the door handle 100 may be transmitted to the drive lever 400 .
- a link 800 may be configured to move the support rod 700 while rotating with respect to the handle housing 200 by the rotation of the drive lever 400 .
- a detailed description of the movement of the support rod 700 by the link 800 will be given below with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20 .
- FIG. 18 illustrates a positional relationship between the support rod 700 and the drive lever 400 when the door handle 100 is accommodated in the handle housing 200
- FIG. 19 illustrates the positional relationship between the support rod 700 and the drive lever 400 when the door handle 100 is deployed from the handle housing 200
- FIG. 20 illustrates the door handle 100 being supported by the support rod 700 .
- the support rod 700 may remain unengaged with the support protrusion 111 of the door handle 100 .
- the link 800 may cause the support rod 700 to be moved with respect to the drive lever 400 as the drive lever begins to rotate with respect to the handle housing 200 . More particularly, as the drive lever 400 rotates with respect to the handle housing 200 about the first rotational axis Ax, the link 800 may be rotated with respect to the handle housing 200 and may push the support rod 700 at the same time due to the linkage mechanism. Consequently, the support rod 700 may be moved horizontally and simultaneously brought proximate to the support protrusion 111 of the door handle 100 . Referring to FIG. 20 , the support rod 700 pushed by the link 800 may be engaged with and support the support protrusion 111 of the door handle 100 .
- the door handle 100 may be supported by the support rod 700 via the support protrusion 111 .
- the rotation of the door handle 100 with respect to the drive lever 400 may be prevented such that the force acting on the door handle 100 may be transmitted to the drive lever 400 .
- the user may pull the door handle 100 to open the vehicle door 20 .
- the support protrusion 111 is supported by the support rod 700 , the rotation of the door handle 100 with respect to the drive lever 400 may be prevented, and the user’s force exerted on the door handle 100 may be transmitted to the drive lever 400 .
- the unlocking pin 411 of the drive lever 400 may press the unlocking unit 500 , which may, in turn, unlock the vehicle door 20 .
- the support rod 700 When the driving force of the actuator 300 is removed, the support rod 700 may be returned to its original position by the link 800 , and the support of the support protrusion 111 by the support rod 700 may be released. In such case, the door handle 100 may be allowed to rotate with respect to the drive lever 400 , and the door handle 100 may be accommodated in the handle housing 200 .
- FIG. 21 illustrates a part of the door handle being deployed from the handle housing by an external force.
- a part of the door handle 100 may be deployed from the handle housing 200 by an external force F2.
- F2 force exerted on one side of the door handle 100
- a part of the door handle 100 may be deployed from the housing since the door handle 100 is rotated with respect to the drive lever 400 .
- the pressing force F2 is exerted on the part of the door handle 100 that accommodates the weight body 160 therein
- the door handle 100 may be rotated with respect to the drive lever 400 , and a part of the door handle 100 that accommodates the optical device 150 may be simultaneously exposed to the exterior of the handle housing 200 .
- Such a behavior may provide a back-up means to operate the door handle 100 .
- the door handle 100 may not be deployed by the driving force of the actuator 300 .
- the user may press one side of the door handle 100 such that the other side thereof may be partially exposed to the exterior of the handle housing 200 .
- the user may open the vehicle door 20 by grasping and pulling the door handle 100 exposed to the exterior.
- the door handle 100 may be accommodated in the handle housing 200 again and converted into an accommodation state by the elastic force of the first elastic member 610 .
- FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the optical device
- FIG. 23 depicts the function of an optical guide
- FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the optical guide
- FIG. 25 depicts the function of a light diffusion part
- FIG. 26 depicts the function of a controller
- FIG. 27 depicts light being emitted from a vehicle door handle assembly.
- the optical device 150 may include a light source 151 , a substrate 152 , an optical guide 153 , a signal receiver 154 , and a controller 155 .
- the light source 151 may irradiate light.
- the light source 151 may be provided in the form of a light emitting diode (LED).
- the substrate 152 may support the light source 151 .
- a plurality of light sources 151 may be provided.
- the plurality of light sources 151 may irradiate light with colors different from one another. Alternatively, each of the plurality of light sources 151 may be capable of irradiating light in different colors.
- the light guide 153 may guide the light irradiated from the light source 151 and emit the light to the handle cover 120 .
- the light guide 153 may include a light incident part 153 a , a light reflection part 153 b , and a light emission part 153 c .
- the light incident part 153 a may receive light L from the light source 151 .
- the light incident part 153 a may be disposed adjacent to the light source 151 .
- the light reflection part 153 b may reflect the light L incident on the light incident part 153 a to the light emission part 153 c .
- the light emission part 153 c may be formed in an elongated shape, and the light reflection part 153 b may irradiate the reflected light along the longitudinal direction of the light emission part 153 c .
- the light emission part 153 c may emit the light L incident on the light incident part 153 a .
- the light emission part 153 c may emit the light L reflected by the light reflection part 153 b .
- the light emission part 153 c may include a light emission surface ES and a light diffusion surface DS.
- the light emission surface ES may be disposed towards the handle cover 120 , and may emit the light incident on the light incident part 153 a to the handle cover 120 .
- the light emission part 153 c may perform surface emission of the light in a shape corresponding to the shape of the light emission surface ES.
- the light diffusion surface DS may be provided on the opposite side of the light emission surface ES and may diffuse the light L incident on the light incident part 153 a towards the light emission surface ES.
- the light diffusion surface DS may include at least one light diffusion part 153 d configured to diffuse the incident light L.
- the light diffusion part 153 d may be formed by recessing the light diffusion surface DS inwards in a conical shape. In some embodiments, the light diffusion part 153 d may be formed in a hemisphere shape.
- the light diffusion part 153 d may be formed over at least a portion of the light diffusion surface DS.
- FIG. 24 illustrates an example where the light diffusion part 153 d is formed over the entire area of the light diffusion surface DS.
- the light diffusion part 153 d may diffuse the incident light L and irradiate it to the light emission surface ES. As the light diffused by the light diffusion part 153 d is emitted through the light emission surface ES, the light emission part 153 c may perform surface emission of the light corresponding to the shape of the light emission surface ES.
- the light guide 153 may include a leg 153 e .
- the leg 153 e may be coupled to the optical housing 130 .
- the leg 153 e may be coupled to the optical housing 130 by a coupling means such as a screw. Since the leg 153 e is coupled to the optical housing 130 , the light guide 153 may be fixed to the optical housing 130 .
- the signal receiver 154 may receive a signal associated with the deployment of the door handle 100 .
- the signal may be received using short-range wireless communication such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near field communication (NFC).
- RFID radio-frequency identification
- NFC near field communication
- the user may bring the communication means with an RFID tag or an NFC tag attached thereto proximate to the optical device 150 .
- the signal receiver 154 of the optical device 150 may receive the signal associated with the deployment of the door handle 100 from the communication means.
- the controller 155 may be configured to control an operation of the light source 151 .
- the controller 155 may be configured to control the light source 151 to irradiate light of a particular color or pattern depending on the signal received from the vehicle.
- the controller 155 may be configured to control the light source 151 to irradiate red light. Accordingly, a light source 151 that irradiates the red light may be turned on under the control of the controller 155 .
- the controller 155 may be configured to control the light source 151 to produce blinking blue light. Accordingly, the light source 151 that irradiates the blue light may blink under the control of the controller 155 .
- the vehicle signal may include a welcome signal, a door locking signal, a door unlocking signal, a companion boarding signal, a hand engagement signal, an emergency light signal, a vehicle problem signal, or the like.
- the controller 155 may be configured to control the light source 151 to irradiate the light in a color or pattern corresponding to the vehicle signal.
- FIG. 27 illustrates the light being emitted from the vehicle door handle assembly.
- the light may be emitted through the light emission portion 121 formed in the handle cover 120 of the door handle 100 .
- the user may recognize the status of the vehicle by referring to the light emitted through the door handle 100 . For instance, the user may also check whether the vehicle door 20 has been changed to a locked or unlocked state by referring to the light emitted through the door handle 100 . Alternatively, by referring to the light emitted through the door handle 100 , the user may check whether a companion has embarked the vehicle or whether any problem has occurred in the vehicle.
- FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
- the controller 155 may be configured to receive the vehicle signal from the vehicle (S 710 ) and control the light source 151 provided in the door handle 100 so that the light color and/or pattern that corresponds to the vehicle signal may be emitted from the door handle 100 (S 720 ).
- the vehicle signal may include a welcome signal, a door locking signal, a door unlocking signal, a companion boarding signal, a hand engagement signal, an emergency light signal, a vehicle problem signal, or the like, such that the user may be able to check the status of the vehicle by referring to the light emitted from the door handle 100 .
Abstract
A door handle assembly for a vehicle may include a door handle, a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle, a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle, and an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing. In particular, the door handle is deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
Description
- This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0191560 filed on Dec. 29, 2021 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0082199 filed on Jul. 5, 2022, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- The present disclosure relates to a door handle assembly for a vehicle and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a door handle assembly for a vehicle with a door handle that is deployable from a door of the vehicle and a method for controlling the same.
- A door of a vehicle is provided with a door handle capable of opening and closing the door. A user can open or close the door using the door handle. For example, the user can open and close the door by horizontally moving the door handle in one direction or rotating it about a rotating axis.
- Meanwhile, when the door handle protrudes from the door of the vehicle, noise may occur, and fuel efficiency may be decreased due to the resistance of air.
- Therefore, the problems due to the door handles that protrude from the door of the vehicle need to be solved.
- Aspects of the present disclosure provide a door handle assembly for a vehicle with a door handle that is deployable from a door of the vehicle and a method for controlling the same.
- The technical aspects of the present disclosure are not restricted to those set forth herein, and other unmentioned technical aspects will be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains by referencing the detailed description of the present disclosure given below.
- A door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a door handle; a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle; a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle; an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing. In particular, the door handle may be deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
- During a period when the door handle is accommodated in the handle housing, the door handle may be disposed parallel to a vehicle door. During deployment by the driving force of the actuator, the door handle may become inclined with respect to the vehicle door and then be disposed parallel with the vehicle door upon completion of the deployment. As the door handle is disposed inclined with respect to the vehicle door, a part of the door handle may be discharged to exterior of the handle housing.
- The door handle assembly may further include a first elastic member configured to generate an elastic force between the handle housing and the drive lever; and a second elastic member configured to generate an elastic force between the drive lever and the door handle. In response to the driving force of the actuator being removed, the door handle may be accommodated in the handle housing by the elastic force of the first elastic member, and in response to the drive lever being rotated by the driving force of the actuator, the door handle may be rotated with respect to the drive lever by the elastic force of the second elastic member.
- A vehicle door may be unlocked in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is deployed from the handle housing.
- The door handle assembly may further include an unlocking unit connected to the drive lever and configured to unlock the vehicle door based on the rotation of the drive lever.
- The actuator may include a drive motor configured to generate the driving force by rotation; an output shaft configured to move axially by the driving force and press the drive lever; an actuator housing configured to accommodate the drive motor and the output shaft; and a position provision unit configured to provide a position of the output shaft with respect to the actuator housing.
- Further, the position provision unit may include a common electrode pin; a first position electrode pin configured to indicate that the output shaft is in a position that does not press the drive lever in response to the first position electrode pin being electrically connected to the common electrode pin; a second position electrode pin configured to indicate that the output shaft is in a position that presses the driving lever in response to the second position electrode pin being electrically connected to the common electrode pin; and a connection pin included in the output shaft and configured to connect the first position electrode pin or the second position electrode pin to the common electrode pin.
- The door handle may include a signal receiver configured to receive a signal associated with the deployment of the door handle; a weight body; and a handle body configured to accommodate the signal receiver on one side thereof and the weight body on the other side thereof with respect to a rotation axis of the drive lever. The weight body may be provided to decrease a moment of inertia of the door handle with respect to the rotation axis.
- The door handle assembly may further include a support rod configured to move horizontally with respect to the drive lever and support an end of the door handle; and a link configured to move the support rod while rotating with respect to the handle housing by the rotation of the drive lever. As such, in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is supported by the support rod, the door handle may be prevented from rotating with respect to the driving lever, and the force to the door handle may be transmitted to the drive lever.
- In response to a force being exerted on one side of the door handle, a part of the door handle may be deployed from the handle housing as the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
- A door handle assembly for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a door handle; a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle; a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle; an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing. In particular, the door handle may be deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever. Further, the door handle may include an optical device configured to emit light that corresponds to a vehicle signal received from the vehicle.
- A vehicle door may be unlocked in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is deployed from the handle housing.
- The door handle may further include a handle body configured to accommodate the optical device; and a handle cover coupled to the handle body and configured to provide an accommodation space for the optical device. The handle cover may include at least one light emission portion to emit the light generated from the optical device.
- Further, the optical device may include a light source configured to irradiate the light; a light guide configured to guide the light irradiated from the light source and emit the light to the handle cover; a substrate configured to support the light source; and a controller configured to control an operation of the light source.
- The optical guide may include a light incident part configured to receive the light from the light source, and a light emission part configured to emit the light incident on the light incident part. The light emission part may include a light emission surface disposed towards the handle cover and configured to emit the light incident on the light incident part to the handle cover; and a light diffusion surface provided on an opposite side of the light emission surface and configured to diffuse the light incident on the light incident part to the light emission surface. In particular, the light diffusion surface may include at least one light diffusion part formed by recessing the light diffusion surface inwards.
- The controller may be configured to control the light source to irradiate the light of a particular color or pattern depending on the vehicle signal received from the vehicle.
- Door handle assemblies for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure as described herein can prevent resistance (e.g., drag) caused by air during driving since the door handle can be embedded (e.g., retracted, withdrawn) or deployed in the door of the vehicle. In addition, since the entire door handle is deployed in the door of the vehicle, the user can more easily operate the door handle. Further, since the door handle emits light in response to different situations, the user can more easily recognize the situations.
- The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 3 illustrates a buffer provided in a housing body; -
FIG. 4 illustrates the door handle accommodated in the handle housing; -
FIG. 5 illustrates the door handle being deployed from the handle housing; -
FIG. 6 illustrates the entire door handle deployed from the handle housing; -
FIG. 7 illustrates a force for unlocking the vehicle door exerted on the door handle; -
FIG. 8 depicts the coupling relationship between the drive lever and the unlocking unit; -
FIG. 9 depicts an operation of the unlocking unit; -
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an actuator; -
FIG. 11 illustrates an output shaft; -
FIG. 12 is a view illustrating that a common electrode pin and a first position electrode pin are electrically connected; -
FIG. 13 is a view illustrating that the common electrode pin and a second position electrode pin are electrically connected; -
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle; -
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a handle body; -
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the drive lever; -
FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the drive lever; -
FIG. 18 illustrates positional relationship of the support rod for the drive lever when the door handle is accommodated in the handle housing; -
FIG. 19 illustrates positional relationship of the support rod for the drive lever when the door handle is deployed from the handle housing; -
FIG. 20 illustrates the door handle supported by a support rod; -
FIG. 21 illustrates a part of the door handle being deployed from the handle housing by an external force; -
FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an optical device; -
FIG. 23 depicts the function of an optical guide; -
FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the optical guide; -
FIG. 25 depicts the function of a light diffusion part; -
FIG. 26 depicts the function of a controller; -
FIG. 27 depicts light being emitted from a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and -
FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. - Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and a method of achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments to be described below, but may be implemented in various different forms, and these embodiments are only provided to make the disclosures complete, and to fully inform the scope of the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs. The disclosure is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the specification.
- Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present specification may be used as meanings that can be commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. In addition, terms defined in a commonly used dictionary are not to be interpreted too ideally or excessively unless explicitly defined specifically.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2 , adoor handle assembly 10 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include adoor handle 100, ahandle housing 200, adrive lever 400, anactuator 300, and an unlockingunit 500. - The
door handle 100 may be grasped by a user and may be used to open a door of a vehicle. For example, the user may open the door of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “a vehicle door”) by pulling thedoor handle 100 towards the outside of the vehicle. - Furthermore, the
door handle 100 may emit light that corresponds to a signal received from the vehicle (e.g., a controller in the vehicle). Accordingly, thedoor handle 100 may be used not only to open the vehicle door, but also to emit light that allows the user to notice the status of the vehicle. - The
handle housing 200 may provide an accommodation space of thedoor handle 100. In the present disclosure, thedoor handle 100 may be in a state of being accommodated in thehandle housing 200 or in a state of being deployed therefrom, i.e., in a state of being discharged from thehandle housing 200. Thehandle housing 200 may be fixedly coupled to the vehicle door. When thedoor handle 100 is accommodated in thehandle housing 200, thedoor handle 100 may be retracted (e.g., withdrawn) within the vehicle door. Meanwhile, when thedoor handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, thedoor handle 100 may protrude from the exterior surface of the vehicle door. The user may open the vehicle door by pulling thedoor handle 100 that protrudes from the vehicle door. - The
handle housing 200 may include ahousing body 210 and ahousing cover 220. Thehousing body 210 may be fixedly coupled to the vehicle door to provide an accommodation space of thedoor handle 100. Thehousing cover 220 may be coupled to thehousing body 210 to provide an entry port through which thedoor handle 100 is accommodated in thehousing body 210 or deployed therefrom. - In addition, the
housing cover 220 may seal at least a part of an opening of thehousing body 210. For example, thehousing cover 220 may seal the remainder of the opening of thehousing body 210, except the space for moving thedoor handle 100. Accordingly, external substances can be prevented from being introduced into thehousing body 210, and the components accommodated into thehousing body 210 can be prevented from being observed from the outside. - The
drive lever 400 may be rotatably coupled to thehandle housing 200 and thedoor handle 100. Thedoor handle 100 may be inserted into thehandle housing 200 or deployed from thehandle housing 200 as thedrive lever 400 rotates with respect to thehandle housing 200. In the present disclosure, thedoor handle 100 may be disposed substantially parallel with the vehicle door both in the state where it is accommodated in the handle housing 200 (hereinafter referred to as “an accommodated state”) and in the state where it is deployed from the handle housing 200 (hereinafter referred to as “a deployed state”). For example, in the accommodated state and the deployed state, thedoor handle 100 may have a posture parallel to the vehicle door. More specifically, in the accommodated state, thedoor handle 100 may be buried in the vehicle door and have a posture parallel to the vehicle door, and in the deployed state, thedoor handle 100 may protrude from the vehicle door and have a posture parallel to the vehicle door. In addition, during the accommodation operation or the deployment operation, thedoor handle 100 may temporarily have an inclined posture. For example, thedoor handle 100 may have a posture parallel to the vehicle door in the accommodated state, a posture inclined with respect to the vehicle door during the deployment, and a posture parallel to the vehicle door again when the deployment is completed. - The
door handle 100 may be rotatably coupled to thedrive lever 400 so that thedoor handle 100 may have a posture parallel to the vehicle door in both the accommodated state and the deployed state. Thedoor handle 100 may rotate with respect to thedrive lever 400 while thedrive lever 400 rotates with respect to thehandle housing 200, thus determining the posture of thedoor handle 100 for the vehicle door. - The
actuator 300 may deploy thedoor handle 100 from thehandle housing 200 by transmitting a driving force to thedrive lever 400. As described above, thedrive lever 400 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200, so that thedoor handle 100 may be inserted into thehandle housing 200, or thedoor handle 100 may be deployed from thehandle housing 200. When theactuator 300 transmits the driving force to thedrive lever 400, thedrive lever 400 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200, and thedoor handle 100 may be simultaneously deployed from thehandle housing 200. - As the
drive lever 400 rotates with respect to thehandle housing 200 by the driving force of theactuator 300 and thedoor handle 100 rotates with respect to thedrive lever 400, theentire door handle 100 may be deployed from the handlinghousing 200. When thedoor handle 100 is deployed from or accommodated in thehandle housing 200, thedoor handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door following the temporarily inclined posture to the vehicle door. In the accommodated state, thedoor handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door and may have the posture inclined to the vehicle door while being deployed from thehandle housing 200, and when the deployment is completed, thedoor handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door again. Likewise, in the deployed state, thedoor handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door and may have the posture inclined to the vehicle door while being accommodated into thehandle housing 200, and when the accommodation is completed, thedoor handle 100 may have the posture parallel to the vehicle door again. - The unlocking
unit 500 may be connected to thedrive lever 400 and may operate by rotation of thedrive lever 400 and unlock the vehicle door. A detailed description of the structure and function of the unlockingunit 500 will be provided below with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9 . -
FIG. 3 depicts a buffer provided in the housing body. Referring toFIG. 3 , ahousing body 210 may include abuffer 230. Thebuffer 230 may be provided in thehandle housing 200 to buffer or absorb the impact between thedoor handle 100 and thehandle housing 200. Thehousing body 210 may include anaccommodating groove 211 for arranging abuffer 230. Thebuffer 230 may be accommodated in theaccommodating groove 211 to alleviate (e.g., buffer or absorb) the impact between thehousing body 210 and at least one of thedoor handle 100 or thedrive lever 400. -
FIG. 3 illustrates an example where onebuffer member 230 is provided in thehousing body 210. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and a plurality ofbuffers 230 may be provided in thehousing body 210. -
FIG. 4 illustrates the door handle accommodated in the handle housing,FIG. 5 illustrates the door handle being deployed from the handle housing, andFIG. 6 illustrates the entire door handle deployed from the handle housing. Further,FIG. 7 depicts a force unlocking the vehicle door being exerted on the door handle,FIG. 8 depicts the coupling relation between the drive lever and the unlocking unit, andFIG. 9 depicts an operation of the unlocking unit. - Referring to
FIGS. 4 to 6 , thedoor handle 100 may be deployed from thehandle housing 200 as thedrive lever 400 rotates with respect to thehandle housing 200. As illustrated inFIG. 4 , thedoor handle 100 may have the posture parallel to avehicle door 20 while being accommodated in thehandle housing 200. In such case, thedoor handle 100 may be disposed in thehandle housing 200 such that an outer surface of thedoor handle 100 and an outer surface of the door are disposed on a substantially same plane (e.g., “flush” with each other). - The
drive lever 400 may include a firstelastic member 610. The firstelastic member 610 may generate an elastic force between thehandle housing 200 and thedrive lever 400. The firstelastic member 610 may generate an elastic force that biases thedoor handle 100 toward being inserted into thehandle housing 200. The elastic force of the firstelastic member 610 may act as a rotational force that rotates thedrive lever 400 with respect to thehandle housing 200, and upon removing the driving force of theactuator 300, thedoor handle 100 may be accommodated in thehandle housing 200 by the elastic force of the firstelastic member 610, as illustrated inFIG. 4 . - As illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6 , thedoor handle 100 may be deployed from thehandle housing 200 while thedrive lever 400 rotates with respect to thehandle housing 200 by the driving force of theactuator 300. When the driving force of theactuator 300 exceeds the elastic force of the firstelastic member 610 that resists the rotation, thedrive lever 400 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200 about a first rotation axis Ax. As thedrive lever 400 rotates, thedoor handle 100 may be deployed from thehandle housing 200. - A second
elastic member 620 may be provided between thedrive lever 400 and thedoor handle 100. The secondelastic member 620 may generate an elastic force between thedrive lever 400 and thedoor handle 100. The elastic force of the secondelastic member 620 may bias thedoor handle 100 to be rotated toward one direction with respect to thedrive lever 400. - When the
drive lever 400 rotates by the driving force of theactuator 300, thedoor handle 100 may rotate with respect to thedrive lever 400 about a second rotation axis Bx by the elastic force of the secondelastic member 620. As illustrated inFIG. 5 , thedrive lever 400 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200 by the driving force of theactuator 300, and thedoor handle 100 may simultaneously rotate with respect to thedrive lever 400 such that thedoor handle 100 has the posture inclined with respect to thevehicle door 20. When thedoor handle 100 has the position inclined to thevehicle door 20, a part of thedoor handle 100 may be discharged to the outside of thehandle housing 200. - The rotation of the
door handle 100 with respect to thedrive lever 400 may be continued up to a predetermined angle, and as illustrated inFIG. 6 , the predetermined angle may be selected as an angle at which thedoor handle 100 becomes parallel to the door when the rotation of thedrive lever 400 with respect to thehandle housing 200 is completed. - When only a part of the
door handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, thedoor handle 100 may not be easily grasped by the user. As illustrated inFIG. 6 , conversely, with the deployment of theentire door handle 100 from thehandle housing 200, the user can more easily grasp thedoor handle 100. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , when a force F1 is exerted on thedoor handle 100 in a direction away from thehandle housing 200 in a state where theentire door handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, thevehicle door 20 may be unlocked. The user may pull thedoor handle 100 in a state where theentire door handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200. In response, thevehicle door 20 may be unlocked while thedrive lever 400 rotates together with thedoor handle 100. With the unlocking of thevehicle door 20, thevehicle door 20 may be opened. - Referring to
FIGS. 8 and 9 , when thedoor handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, an unlockingpin 411 of thedrive lever 400 may abut the unlockingunit 500. When the user pulls thedoor handle 100 in a state where thedoor handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, thedrive lever 400 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200. With the rotation of thedrive lever 400, the unlockingpin 411 may press (or slide) the unlockingunit 500. - The unlocking
unit 500 may include arelease rod 510 and arelease lever 520. Therelease rod 510 may be in contact with the unlockingpin 411 and may be configured to move with respect to thehandle housing 200 when the unlockingpin 411 presses the unlockingunit 500. Therelease lever 520 may be provided in an end of therelease rod 510. Therelease lever 520 may be rotatably coupled to thehandle housing 200. Therelease lever 520 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200 about a third rotation axis Cx. When therelease rod 510 is moved by the unlockingpin 411, therelease lever 520 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200. Therelease lever 520 may be connected to a locking means of thevehicle door 20, and with the rotation of therelease lever 520, thevehicle door 20 may be unlocked. -
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an actuator,FIG. 11 illustrates an output shaft,FIG. 12 is a view illustrating that a common electrode pin and a first position electrode pin are electrically connected, andFIG. 13 is a view illustrating that the common electrode pin and a second position electrode pin are electrically connected. - Referring to
FIG. 10 , theactuator 300 may include anactuator housing 310, adrive motor 320, anoutput shaft 330, and aconnector pin 340. - The
actuator housing 310 may accommodate thedrive motor 320, theoutput shaft 330, and theconnector pin 340. Theactuator housing 310 may be directly or indirectly coupled to thehandle housing 200. - The
drive motor 320 may generate the driving force, for example, a rotational torque. Thedrive motor 320 may operate with electrical power supplied externally. - The
output shaft 330 may be horizontally (e.g., axially) moved by the driving force of thedrive motor 320 and may press thedrive lever 400. The driving force of thedrive motor 320 may act as a force for the horizontal movement of theoutput shaft 330, thus allowing theoutput shaft 330 to move horizontally. To this end, thedrive motor 320 may be provided with aworm gear 321, and theoutput shaft 330 may be provided with aworm wheel 331. Theworm gear 321 may be gear-coupled to theworm wheel 331. When theworm gear 321 rotates by the driving force of thedrive motor 320, theworm wheel 331 may be rotated. - Further, the
output shaft 330 may be screw-coupled to theworm wheel 331. When theworm wheel 331 rotates, theoutput shaft 330 may be moved horizontally with respect to theactuator housing 310 due to the screw-coupling that converts the rotational movement of theworm wheel 331 to a linear movement of theoutput shaft 330. - The
connector pin 340 may supply the electrical power to thedrive motor 320 or provide a path for a signal that represents a position of theoutput shaft 330 with respect to theactuator housing 310. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , theoutput shaft 330 may include aconnection pin 332 configured to electrically connect a pair of connector pins among the connector pins 340. As theoutput shaft 330 moves with respect to theactuator housing 310, theconnection pin 332 may electrically connect the pair of connector pins among the connector pins 340. - Referring to
FIGS. 12 and 13 , theconnector pin 340 may include a firstposition electrode pin 341, a secondposition electrode pin 342, acommon electrode pin 343, and power supply pins 344 and 345. - The power supply pins 344 and 345 may serve as terminals for supplying the electrical power to the
drive motor 320. When power is supplied via the power supply pins 344 and 345, thedrive motor 320 may generate the driving force to rotate theworm gear 321. - The
worm gear 321 may rotate theworm wheel 331, and theworm wheel 331 may rotate in a state where its axial movement is restricted in theactuator housing 310. Accordingly, theworm wheel 331 may cause theoutput shaft 330 to move linearly with respect to theactuator housing 310. - The
actuator 300 may include a position provision unit. The position provision unit may provide a position of theoutput shaft 330 relative to theactuator housing 310. For example, the position provision unit may provide whether theoutput shaft 330 is in a position that presses thedrive lever 400 or not. The position of theoutput shaft 330 determined by the position provision unit may be provided to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle or a separate control means and be used for operation of the vehicle. Hereinafter, it will be mainly described that position information of theoutput shaft 330 is provided to the electronic control unit as an example. - The position provision unit may include the
common electrode pin 343, the firstposition electrode pin 341, the secondposition electrode pin 342, and theconnection pin 332. Thecommon electrode pin 343 may be electrically connected to the firstposition electrode pin 341 or the secondposition electrode pin 342 to provide information associated with the position of theoutput shaft 330. - More specifically, when the first
position electrode pin 341 is electrically connected to thecommon electrode pin 343, as shown inFIG. 12 , it may indicate that theoutput shaft 330 is in the position that does not press thedrive lever 400. Accordingly, the electronic control unit may determine that theoutput shaft 330 is in the position that does not press thedrive lever 400. When the secondposition electrode pin 342 is electrically connected to thecommon electrode pin 343, as shown inFIG. 13 , it may indicate that theoutput shaft 330 is in the position that presses thedrive lever 400. Accordingly, the electronic control unit may determine that theoutput shaft 330 is in the position that presses thedrive lever 400. - As described above, the
output shaft 330 may include theconnection pin 332. Through theconnection pin 332, may the firstposition electrode pin 341 or thesecond electrode pin 342 be electrically connected to thecommon electrode pin 343. With the movement of theoutput shaft 330, the position of theconnection pin 332 may be changed, thereby to alternatively connect the firstposition electrode pin 341 or the secondposition electrode pin 342 to thecommon electrode pin 343. -
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the door handle, andFIG. 15 is a perspective view of the handle body. Referring toFIGS. 14 and 15 , thedoor handle 100 may include ahandle body 110, ahandle cover 120, anoptical housing 130, anoptical cover 140, anoptical device 150, and aweight body 160. - The
handle body 110 may be coupled to thehandle cover 120 to accommodate theoptical housing 130, theoptical cover 140, theoptical device 150, and theweight body 160 therein. In addition, an assembly of thehandle body 110 and thehandle cover 120 may form an outer appearance of thedoor handle 100. The user may open thevehicle door 20 by grasping the assembly of thehandle body 110 and thehandle cover 120. - The
handle cover 120 may be coupled to thehandle body 110, thus providing accommodation spaces of theoptical housing 130, theoptical cover 140, theoptical device 150, and theweight body 160. Thehandle cover 120 may include at least one light emission portion 121 (or light emission aperture) to emit light generated from theoptical device 150. As described below, theoptical device 150 may generate light. The light generated from theoptical device 150 may be emitted to the exterior via thelight emission portion 121 provided in thehandle cover 120. - The
light emission portion 121 may be formed over at least a part of the entire area of thehandle cover 120 exposed to the exterior.FIG. 14 illustrates an example where thelight emission portion 121 is formed in a part of one surface of thehandle cover 120. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and thelight emission portion 121 may be formed across substantially the entire area of thehandle cover 120. - The
light emission portion 121 may be formed by perforating a surface of thehandle cover 120 that is exposed to the exterior. Thelight emission portion 121 may remain a perforated state such that the inside and outside of thehandle cover 120 are communicated or may be filled with a material that can transmit light. - The
optical housing 130 and theoptical cover 140 may accommodate theoptical device 150 therein. Theoptical device 150 may be accommodated in thehandle body 110 and thehandle cover 120 in a state where it is accommodated in theoptical housing 130 and theoptical cover 140. Theoptical cover 140 may include a material that can transmit light. The light generated from theoptical device 150 may be transmitted to thehandle cover 120 by passing through theoptical cover 140. Meanwhile, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, theoptical housing 130 and theoptical cover 140 may be omitted, and theoptical device 150 may be directly accommodated in thehandle body 110 and thehandle cover 120. - The
optical device 150 may be configured to generate the light that correspond to signals received from the vehicle. In addition, theoptical device 150 may receive a signal for the deployment of thedoor handle 100. The configuration and function of theoptical device 150 will be described below with reference toFIGS. 22 to 26 . - In some embodiments, the
optical device 150 may be accommodated in one longitudinal side of thehandle body 110. When theoptical device 150, theoptical housing 130, and theoptical cover 140 are loaded on one longitudinal side of thehandle body 110, a weight imbalance may occur in thedoor handle 100. In other words, the weight of the portion of thedoor handle 100 where theoptical device 150, theoptical housing 130, and theoptical cover 140 are loaded may be greater than other portions. When the weight imbalance occurs in thedoor handle 100, noise may be generated by thedoor handle 100 during driving. In order to prevent or reduce the noise, theweight body 160 may be accommodated in thehandle body 110. Thehandle body 110 may accommodate theoptical device 150 on one side thereof and theweight body 160 on the other side thereof with respect to the rotation axis Bx of thedrive lever 400. Theweight body 160 may make the weight of both sides more uniform with respect to the rotation axis Bx of thedrive lever 400. Specifically, theweight body 160 may reduce a mass moment of inertia of thedoor handle 100. As theweight body 160 reduces the moment of inertia of thedoor handle 100, the weight imbalance of thedoor handle 100, vibration of thedoor handle 100, as well as the noise caused by thedoor handle 100 during driving, may be prevented or reduced. - Referring to
FIG. 15 , asupport protrusion 111 may be provided in thehandle body 110. Thesupport protrusion 111 may protrude from thehandle body 110 and be supported by a support rod to be described below. As thesupport protrusion 111 is supported by the support rod, a force exerted by the user on thedoor handle 100 may be transmitted to thedrive lever 400. -
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the drive lever, andFIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the drive lever. Referring toFIGS. 16 and 17 , thedrive lever 400 may include alever body 410 and alever cover 420. Thelever body 410 and thelever cover 420 may be coupled to each other, thus providing accommodation spaces of thesupport rod 700 and thelink 800. - A
pressure delivery groove 412 may be formed in thelever body 410. Theoutput shaft 330 provided in theactuator 300 may be inserted into thepressure delivery groove 412 to transmit the driving force of theactuator 300 to thedrive lever 400. With the movement of theoutput shaft 330 with one end of theoutput shaft 330 being inserted into thepressure delivery groove 412, thedrive lever 400 may rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200. - The
support rod 700 may horizontally move inside thedrive lever 400. Thesupport rod 700 may horizontally move with respect to thedrive lever 400 to support an end of thedoor handle 100. Specifically, thesupport rod 700 may support thesupport protrusion 111 of thedoor handle 100. When thesupport protrusion 111 is supported by thesupport rod 700, the rotation of thedoor handle 100 with respect to thedrive lever 400 may be prevented, and the force exerted on thedoor handle 100 may be transmitted to thedrive lever 400. - A
link 800 may be configured to move thesupport rod 700 while rotating with respect to thehandle housing 200 by the rotation of thedrive lever 400. A detailed description of the movement of thesupport rod 700 by thelink 800 will be given below with reference toFIGS. 18 to 20 . -
FIG. 18 illustrates a positional relationship between thesupport rod 700 and thedrive lever 400 when thedoor handle 100 is accommodated in thehandle housing 200,FIG. 19 illustrates the positional relationship between thesupport rod 700 and thedrive lever 400 when thedoor handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, andFIG. 20 illustrates thedoor handle 100 being supported by thesupport rod 700. - Referring to
FIG. 18 , when thedoor handle 100 is accommodated in thehandle housing 200, thesupport rod 700 may remain unengaged with thesupport protrusion 111 of thedoor handle 100. Referring toFIG. 19 , thelink 800 may cause thesupport rod 700 to be moved with respect to thedrive lever 400 as the drive lever begins to rotate with respect to thehandle housing 200. More particularly, as thedrive lever 400 rotates with respect to thehandle housing 200 about the first rotational axis Ax, thelink 800 may be rotated with respect to thehandle housing 200 and may push thesupport rod 700 at the same time due to the linkage mechanism. Consequently, thesupport rod 700 may be moved horizontally and simultaneously brought proximate to thesupport protrusion 111 of thedoor handle 100. Referring toFIG. 20 , thesupport rod 700 pushed by thelink 800 may be engaged with and support thesupport protrusion 111 of thedoor handle 100. - The
door handle 100 may be supported by thesupport rod 700 via thesupport protrusion 111. When the force is exerted on thedoor handle 100 in a direction opposite to the direction of thehandle housing 200 while thedoor handle 100 is supported by thesupport rod 700, the rotation of thedoor handle 100 with respect to thedrive lever 400 may be prevented such that the force acting on thedoor handle 100 may be transmitted to thedrive lever 400. As such, when thedoor handle 100 is deployed from thehandle housing 200, the user may pull thedoor handle 100 to open thevehicle door 20. In such case, since thesupport protrusion 111 is supported by thesupport rod 700, the rotation of thedoor handle 100 with respect to thedrive lever 400 may be prevented, and the user’s force exerted on thedoor handle 100 may be transmitted to thedrive lever 400. - When the
drive lever 400 is rotated by the force transmitted from thedoor handle 100, the unlockingpin 411 of thedrive lever 400 may press the unlockingunit 500, which may, in turn, unlock thevehicle door 20. - When the driving force of the
actuator 300 is removed, thesupport rod 700 may be returned to its original position by thelink 800, and the support of thesupport protrusion 111 by thesupport rod 700 may be released. In such case, thedoor handle 100 may be allowed to rotate with respect to thedrive lever 400, and thedoor handle 100 may be accommodated in thehandle housing 200. -
FIG. 21 illustrates a part of the door handle being deployed from the handle housing by an external force. Referring toFIG. 21 , a part of thedoor handle 100 may be deployed from thehandle housing 200 by an external force F2. When the force F2 is exerted on one side of thedoor handle 100, a part of thedoor handle 100 may be deployed from the housing since thedoor handle 100 is rotated with respect to thedrive lever 400. For instance, when the pressing force F2 is exerted on the part of thedoor handle 100 that accommodates theweight body 160 therein, thedoor handle 100 may be rotated with respect to thedrive lever 400, and a part of thedoor handle 100 that accommodates theoptical device 150 may be simultaneously exposed to the exterior of thehandle housing 200. Such a behavior may provide a back-up means to operate thedoor handle 100. - For example, when a signal receiver 154 (which will be described below with reference to
FIG. 22 ) or theactuator 300 does not function normally, thedoor handle 100 may not be deployed by the driving force of theactuator 300. In such case, the user may press one side of thedoor handle 100 such that the other side thereof may be partially exposed to the exterior of thehandle housing 200. Subsequently, the user may open thevehicle door 20 by grasping and pulling thedoor handle 100 exposed to the exterior. When thevehicle door 20 is opened and the user’s force pulling thedoor handle 100 is released, thedoor handle 100 may be accommodated in thehandle housing 200 again and converted into an accommodation state by the elastic force of the firstelastic member 610. -
FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the optical device,FIG. 23 depicts the function of an optical guide,FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the optical guide,FIG. 25 depicts the function of a light diffusion part,FIG. 26 depicts the function of a controller, andFIG. 27 depicts light being emitted from a vehicle door handle assembly. - Referring to
FIG. 22 , theoptical device 150 may include alight source 151, asubstrate 152, anoptical guide 153, asignal receiver 154, and acontroller 155. Thelight source 151 may irradiate light. For instance, thelight source 151 may be provided in the form of a light emitting diode (LED). Thesubstrate 152 may support thelight source 151. In the present disclosure, a plurality oflight sources 151 may be provided. The plurality oflight sources 151 may irradiate light with colors different from one another. Alternatively, each of the plurality oflight sources 151 may be capable of irradiating light in different colors. Thelight guide 153 may guide the light irradiated from thelight source 151 and emit the light to thehandle cover 120. - Referring to
FIG. 23 , thelight guide 153 may include alight incident part 153 a, alight reflection part 153 b, and alight emission part 153 c. Thelight incident part 153 a may receive light L from thelight source 151. To this end, thelight incident part 153 a may be disposed adjacent to thelight source 151. Thelight reflection part 153 b may reflect the light L incident on thelight incident part 153 a to thelight emission part 153 c. In the present disclosure, thelight emission part 153 c may be formed in an elongated shape, and thelight reflection part 153 b may irradiate the reflected light along the longitudinal direction of thelight emission part 153 c. - The
light emission part 153 c may emit the light L incident on thelight incident part 153 a. Specifically, thelight emission part 153 c may emit the light L reflected by thelight reflection part 153 b. Thelight emission part 153 c may include a light emission surface ES and a light diffusion surface DS. The light emission surface ES may be disposed towards thehandle cover 120, and may emit the light incident on thelight incident part 153 a to thehandle cover 120. Thelight emission part 153 c may perform surface emission of the light in a shape corresponding to the shape of the light emission surface ES. - The light diffusion surface DS may be provided on the opposite side of the light emission surface ES and may diffuse the light L incident on the
light incident part 153 a towards the light emission surface ES. Referring toFIGS. 24 and 25 , the light diffusion surface DS may include at least onelight diffusion part 153 d configured to diffuse the incident light L. Thelight diffusion part 153 d may be formed by recessing the light diffusion surface DS inwards in a conical shape. In some embodiments, thelight diffusion part 153 d may be formed in a hemisphere shape. Thelight diffusion part 153 d may be formed over at least a portion of the light diffusion surface DS.FIG. 24 illustrates an example where thelight diffusion part 153 d is formed over the entire area of the light diffusion surface DS. - As illustrated in
FIG. 25 , thelight diffusion part 153 d may diffuse the incident light L and irradiate it to the light emission surface ES. As the light diffused by thelight diffusion part 153 d is emitted through the light emission surface ES, thelight emission part 153 c may perform surface emission of the light corresponding to the shape of the light emission surface ES. - Referring back to
FIG. 22 , thelight guide 153 may include aleg 153 e. Theleg 153 e may be coupled to theoptical housing 130. For instance, theleg 153 e may be coupled to theoptical housing 130 by a coupling means such as a screw. Since theleg 153 e is coupled to theoptical housing 130, thelight guide 153 may be fixed to theoptical housing 130. - The
signal receiver 154 may receive a signal associated with the deployment of thedoor handle 100. For example, the signal may be received using short-range wireless communication such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near field communication (NFC). The user may bring the communication means with an RFID tag or an NFC tag attached thereto proximate to theoptical device 150. When the communication means is brought proximate to theoptical device 150, thesignal receiver 154 of theoptical device 150 may receive the signal associated with the deployment of thedoor handle 100 from the communication means. - Referring to
FIGS. 22 and 26 , thecontroller 155 may be configured to control an operation of thelight source 151. For example, thecontroller 155 may be configured to control thelight source 151 to irradiate light of a particular color or pattern depending on the signal received from the vehicle. For example, when a first vehicle signal is received, thecontroller 155 may be configured to control thelight source 151 to irradiate red light. Accordingly, alight source 151 that irradiates the red light may be turned on under the control of thecontroller 155. Alternatively, when a second vehicle signal is received, thecontroller 155 may be configured to control thelight source 151 to produce blinking blue light. Accordingly, thelight source 151 that irradiates the blue light may blink under the control of thecontroller 155. - The vehicle signal may include a welcome signal, a door locking signal, a door unlocking signal, a companion boarding signal, a hand engagement signal, an emergency light signal, a vehicle problem signal, or the like. The
controller 155 may be configured to control thelight source 151 to irradiate the light in a color or pattern corresponding to the vehicle signal. -
FIG. 27 illustrates the light being emitted from the vehicle door handle assembly. As theoptical device 150 generates the light, the light may be emitted through thelight emission portion 121 formed in thehandle cover 120 of thedoor handle 100. The user may recognize the status of the vehicle by referring to the light emitted through thedoor handle 100. For instance, the user may also check whether thevehicle door 20 has been changed to a locked or unlocked state by referring to the light emitted through thedoor handle 100. Alternatively, by referring to the light emitted through thedoor handle 100, the user may check whether a companion has embarked the vehicle or whether any problem has occurred in the vehicle. -
FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a door handle assembly for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 28 , thecontroller 155 may be configured to receive the vehicle signal from the vehicle (S710) and control thelight source 151 provided in thedoor handle 100 so that the light color and/or pattern that corresponds to the vehicle signal may be emitted from the door handle 100 (S720). - In the present disclosure, the vehicle signal may include a welcome signal, a door locking signal, a door unlocking signal, a companion boarding signal, a hand engagement signal, an emergency light signal, a vehicle problem signal, or the like, such that the user may be able to check the status of the vehicle by referring to the light emitted from the
door handle 100. - Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the above and the accompanying drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art, to which the present disclosure pertains, can understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in other forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative and non-limiting in any respects.
Claims (20)
1. A door handle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a door handle;
a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle;
a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle; and
an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing,
wherein the door handle is deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
2. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the door handle is accommodated in the handle housing, the door handle is disposed parallel to a vehicle door, and
wherein during deployment by the driving force of the actuator, the door handle becomes inclined with respect to the vehicle door, and upon completion of the deployment, the door handle is disposed parallel to the vehicle door.
3. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein as the door handle is disposed inclined with respect to a vehicle door, a part of the door handle is discharged to exterior of the handle housing.
4. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first elastic member configured to generate an elastic force between the handle housing and the drive lever; and
a second elastic member configured to generate an elastic force between the drive lever and the door handle,
wherein in response to the driving force of the actuator being removed, the door handle is accommodated in the handle housing by the elastic force of the first elastic member, and
wherein in response to the drive lever being rotated by the driving force of the actuator, the door handle may be rotated with respect to the drive lever by the elastic force of the second elastic member.
5. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein a vehicle door is unlocked in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is deployed from the handle housing.
6. The door handle assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
an unlocking unit connected to the drive lever and configured to unlock the vehicle door based on the rotation of the drive lever.
7. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a drive motor configured to generate the driving force by rotation;
an output shaft configured to move axially by the driving force and press the drive lever;
an actuator housing configured to accommodate the drive motor and the output shaft; and
a position provision unit configured to provide a position of the output shaft with respect to the actuator housing.
8. The door handle assembly of claim 7 , wherein the position provision unit comprises:
a common electrode pin;
a first position electrode pin configured to indicate that the output shaft is in a position that does not press the drive lever in response to the first position electrode pin being electrically connected to the common electrode pin;
a second position electrode pin configured to indicate that the output shaft is in a position that presses the driving lever in response to the second position electrode pin being electrically connected to the common electrode pin; and
a connection pin included in the output shaft and configured to connect the first position electrode pin or the second position electrode pin to the common electrode pin.
9. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the door handle comprises:
a signal receiver configured to receive a signal associated with deployment of the door handle;
a weight body; and
a handle body configured to accommodate the signal receiver on one side thereof and the weight body on the other side thereof with respect to a rotation axis of the drive lever.
10. The door handle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the weight body decreases a moment of inertia of the door handle with respect to the rotation axis.
11. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support rod configured to move horizontally with respect to the drive lever and support an end of the door handle; and
a link configured to move the support rod while rotating with respect to the handle housing by the rotation of the drive lever.
12. The door handle assembly of claim 11 , wherein in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is supported by the support rod, the door handle is prevented from rotating with respect to the driving lever, and the force to the door handle is transmitted to the drive lever.
13. The door handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein in response to a force being exerted on one side of the door handle, a part of the door handle is deployed from the handle housing as the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever.
14. A door handle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a door handle;
a handle housing configured to provide an accommodation space for the door handle;
a drive lever rotatably coupled to the handle housing and rotatably coupled to the door handle; and
an actuator configured to transmit a driving force to the drive lever to deploy the door handle from the handle housing,
wherein the door handle is deployed from the handle housing as the drive lever is rotated with respect to the handle housing by the driving force of the actuator, and the door handle is rotated with respect to the drive lever, and
wherein the door handle includes an optical device configured to emit light that corresponds to a vehicle signal received from the vehicle.
15. The door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein a vehicle door is unlocked in response to a force being exerted on the door handle in a direction away from the handle housing in a state where the door handle is deployed from the handle housing.
16. The door handle assembly of claim 14 , wherein the door handle further comprises:
a handle body configured to accommodate the optical device; and
a handle cover coupled to the handle body and configured to provide an accommodation space for the optical device, wherein the handle cover includes at least one light emission portion to emit the light generated from the optical device.
17. The door handle assembly of claim 16 , wherein the optical device comprises:
a light source configured to irradiate the light;
a light guide configured to guide the light irradiated from the light source and emit the light to the handle cover;
a substrate configured to support the light source; and
a controller configured to control an operation of the light source.
18. The door handle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the optical guide comprises:
a light incident part configured to receive the light from the light source, and
a light emission part configured to emit the light incident on the light incident part, and
wherein the light emission part comprises:
a light emission surface disposed towards the handle cover and configured to emit the light incident on the light incident part to the handle cover; and
a light diffusion surface provided on an opposite side of the light emission surface and configured to diffuse the light incident on the light incident part to the light emission surface.
19. The door handle assembly of claim 18 , wherein the light diffusion surface includes at least one light diffusion part formed by recessing the light diffusion surface inwards.
20. The door handle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to control the light source to irradiate the light of a particular color or pattern depending on the vehicle signal received from the vehicle.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020210191560A KR20230101443A (en) | 2021-12-29 | 2021-12-29 | Door handle for vehicle assembly |
KR10-2021-0191560 | 2021-12-29 | ||
KR10-2022-0082199 | 2022-07-05 | ||
KR1020220082199A KR20240005296A (en) | 2022-07-05 | 2022-07-05 | Door handle assembly for vehicle and method for controlling the same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20230203857A1 true US20230203857A1 (en) | 2023-06-29 |
Family
ID=86693785
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US18/090,244 Pending US20230203857A1 (en) | 2021-12-29 | 2022-12-28 | Door handle assembly for vehicle and method for controlling the same |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20230203857A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN116357175A (en) |
DE (1) | DE102022134551A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20200392771A1 (en) * | 2018-03-09 | 2020-12-17 | Alpha Corporation | Door handle device for vehicle |
US20220281410A1 (en) * | 2019-08-21 | 2022-09-08 | Daimler Ag | Door handle for a vehicle door |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR20220082199A (en) | 2020-12-10 | 2022-06-17 | (주)다성테크 | Electric food service cart, system and method for controlling the same |
-
2022
- 2022-10-27 CN CN202211324921.4A patent/CN116357175A/en active Pending
- 2022-12-22 DE DE102022134551.3A patent/DE102022134551A1/en active Pending
- 2022-12-28 US US18/090,244 patent/US20230203857A1/en active Pending
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20200392771A1 (en) * | 2018-03-09 | 2020-12-17 | Alpha Corporation | Door handle device for vehicle |
US11939799B2 (en) * | 2018-03-09 | 2024-03-26 | Alpha Corporation | Door handle device for vehicle |
US20220281410A1 (en) * | 2019-08-21 | 2022-09-08 | Daimler Ag | Door handle for a vehicle door |
US11951936B2 (en) * | 2019-08-21 | 2024-04-09 | Mercedes-Benz Group AG | Door handle for a vehicle door |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN116357175A (en) | 2023-06-30 |
DE102022134551A1 (en) | 2023-06-29 |
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